Aerial-projectile game having movable rebounding surfaces

ABSTRACT

An aerial-projectile type game generally including a playing surface, a goal and a plurality of rebound elements on the playing surface. Each rebound element has a generally upwardly facing flat surface so that the projectile may be bounced downwardly thereagainst and rebound upwardly therefrom. The rebound elements are selectively positioned on the playing surface relative to one another so that the projectile may bounce thereagainst in a predetermined order thereby defining the path of travel for the projectile towards the goal. The playing surface also has a group of marked locations in predetermined relation to one another to locate the rebound elements over any of a combination of marked locations, each combination representing a path of travel of a different degree of difficulty.

United States Patent [1 1 Breslow Sept. 24, 1974 AERlAL-PROJECTILE GAME HAVING MOVABLE REBOUNDING SURFACES [75] inventor: Jeffrey D. Breslow, Chicago, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates,

Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Oct. 15, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 189,700

[56] 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1920 Jancek 273/95 R 9/1961 Rhodes 273/120 R Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo Assistant ExaminerMarvin Siskind Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Coffee & Sweeney [57] ABSTRACT An aerial-projectile type game generally including a playing surface, a goal and a plurality of rebound elements on the playing surface. Each rebound element has a generally upwardly facing flat surface so that the projectile may be bounced downwardly thereagainst and rebound upwardly therefrom. The rebound elements are selectively positioned on the playing surface relative to one another so that the projectile may bounce thereagainst in a predetermined order thereby defining the path of travel for the projectile towards the goal. The playing surface also has a group of marked locations in predetermined relation to one another to locate the rebound elements over any of a combination of marked locations, each combination representing a path of travel of a different degree of difficulty.

14 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures AERIAL-PROJECTILE GAME HAVING MOVABLE REBOUNDING SURFACES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a new and entertaining game of the general type employing a projectile and a goal. More particularly, the invention relates to a rebounding aerial-projectile game.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is well known in the art to provide a plurality of targets for a surface projectile. It is also known in the art to rebound a projectile off some abutment so as to strike a target or goal. It is also known to provide a plurality of targets arranged so that in a single shot, the projectile may strike all of them in succession, the object of the game being to hit all targets, or at least as many as possible, with a single shot of the projectile. See, for example, US. Pat. No. 3,464,699 entitled Adjustable and Removable Targets on a Gameboard. Other examples of games well known in the art are the Bagatelle type game such as billiards or pinball type games. All of the above described type of games are basically two-dimensional in nature. That is, the projectile theoretically travels in a horizontal plane supported on a gameboard.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The principal object of this invention is to provide a simple but highly entertaining three-dimensional game of the type described in which a projectile may be propelled through the air to impact one of a plurality of elements and rebound therefrom into the air to impact other elements in a predetermined'succession, the elements being adjustable relative to one another, so that a substantial amount of skill and dexterity is involved in playing the game.

The game generally includes a flat playing'surface, goal means positioned on the playing surface, and a plurality of rebound elements. Each rebound element has a generally upwardly facing flat surface adapted to be impacted by an airborne projectile moving in one direction so as to rebound the projectile generally upwardly in another direction relative to the impact surface. The rebound elements are to be selectively positioned on the playing surface relative to one another so that the projectile may bounce against the rebound elements in a predetermined order defining a path of travel through the air towards the goal means.

The invention also provides a variety of different locations on the playing surface where the rebound elements may be selectively positioned. Each different combination of rebound element defines a path of travel of a different degree of difficulty.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention at least one of the rebound elements has a surface which is canted relative to the playing surface. The rebound elements are each in the form of a cylindrical disc. The goal means includes a generally cylindrical cup open at the top to receive a projectile therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the target game of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially in the plane of the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a reduced scale plan view of the gameboard of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlargement of the scoring table shown in FIGS. 1 and 3; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of .the rebound targets.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Shown in the accompanying drawings is a game, generally designated 10, whose object is to launch a projectile 12 so that it will bounce against a plurality of rebound elements 14 th'rough the air and into a goal 16. The rebound elements 14 are movably supported on a playing surface 18 for permitting relative orientation of the elements 14 so that the projectile 12 can impact the rebound elements in a predetermined order before reaching the goal 16.

The playing surface 18 is substantially flat and 'defines-the top surface of a gameboard 20. The gameboard 20 is formed from wood, plastic, hardboard or any other suitable material and is rectangular, although not necessarily so, and is provided with all of its side edges with upstanding flange or rim 22.

Each rebound element 14 is a generally cylindrical disc having a generally upwardly facing impact surface 24. The surface 24 is adapted to be impacted by the projectile 12 so that the projectile which is movingin one direction will rebound generally upwardly in another direction relative to the surface 24. Most of the impact surfaces 24 in this embodiment are parallel to the playing surface 14. Some of the rebound elements have an impact surface 24 which is canted relative to the playing surface 18 as shown in FIG. 5.

The rebound elements 14 of this embodiment are made of steel and the projectile 12 is a ball formed of high impact plastic. Other materials can be used in making the rebound elements 14 and the projectile 12 as long as the relationship between the two materials is such that whenever the projectile l2 strikes the impact surface 24, a resilient bounce will result.

The rebound elements 14 can be selectively positioned on the playing surface 18 for permitting the impact surfaces 24 to be orientated relative to one another so that the projectile 12 may impact the rebound elements 14 in a predetermined order which defines a path of travel for the projectile 12 towards the goal 16. The projectile may travel a path bouncing via flat or canted surfaced rebound elements.

The goal 16 is a cylindrical cup positioned near the center of the playing surface 18 having an opening at the top thereof. When a projectile 12 has been successfully launched it will be received in the goal 16.

In theembodiment described herein, there are four different groups 26 of marked locations provided on the playing surface 18. Each group 26 represents a separate playing area for fourpotential players and includes seven marked locations 28 for positioning rebound elements 14 thereover and one marked location 30 for positioning a goal 16 thereover.

Each of the rebound element locations 28 has a different letter printed thereon for visual identification. For example, the letters A, B, C, D, X, Y and Z are employed in the game shown in the accompanying drawings. By the use of these letters marked on the locations '28, a player can choose the position of his rebound elements 14 over any of a preselected combination of rebound element locations 28 as designated on a table 32 printed on the playing surface 18 (see FIG. 4).

As can be seen on the table 32, each combination has a number associated therewith; the number being representative of the relative degree of difficulty and the score achieved in successfully launching a projectile 12. The rebound element 14, intended to be positioned over location Y," is the one having the canted surface 24 shown in FIG. 5. This is the reason why combinations calling for a rebound element at location Y are considered more difficult.

The game may be played by one, two, three or four players. In order to play the game, the rebound elements 14 are positioned on certain of the marked locations 28 within a group 26 by each player before taking his shot. Thus, with the projectile 12 in the starting position as shown in FIG. 1, a player may launch the projectile 12 by hand so that it strikes the rebound element on location A first causing the projectile to impact the surface 24 thereof and to rebound therefrom as indicated by the dotted line 34. The projectile 12 is then intended to rebound against other rebound elements 14 and finally into the goal l6. Theoretically, by analogy to rays of light, the angle of incidence of a projectile moving toward a target will be the same as the angle of reflection of the projectile bounced off the target, and it is this information which must be employed by a player in an effort to successfully cause the projectile to be received on the goal 16.

In actual practice, there are many variables which make that goal difficult to attain. For example: making the initial throw of the projectile 12 at the incorrect angle; not imparting to the projectile a sufiicient force or imparting too great a force; or using the canted surface rebound element and directing the projectile more to one side rather than toward the approximate center of the canted impact surface 24 are all variables which can cause an unsuccessful shot. These variables provide for a highly interesting game of skill, the fascination of which may be increased even further by employing rebound elements of different shapes at different locations.

The score of each player may be kept simply by noting the value attributed to each successful shot as seen in the table 32 shown in FIG. 4. For example, the shot represented by dotted line 34 in FIG. 1 is an ABCD shot having a value of 8. The shot represented by the line 36 in FIG. 1 is an AXYZ" shot having a value of 12. The latter shot has a greater degree of difficulty due to the use of the canted surface rebound element at Y. The point values of the successful shots are tabulated and the player having the greatest cumulative point total after a given time or the player who first reaches a predetermined point value wins the game.

I claim:

l. A rebounding aerial projectile game wherein a projectile is to be launched towards a goal comprising:

a playing surface;

goal means located generally near the center of the playing surface;

a plurality of groups of marked indicia bearing location on said playing surface and around said goal means, each group of locations including a plurality of marked locations in a predetermined relation to one another;

a plurality of rebound elements each having a generally upwardly facing flat impact surface adapted to be impacted by a projectile moving in one direction so as to rebound the projectile generally upwardly therefrom in another direction, said rebound elements being selectively positionable on any of a preselected combination of marked locations within each group for permitting the impact surfaces to be orientated relative to one another so that the projectile may impact the rebound elements in a predetermined order defining a path of travel through the air to the goal means whereby each combination represents a path of travel of a different degree of difficulty; and

scoring means having indicia thereon corresponding to the indicia on said marked locations indicating particular scores for said preselected combinations of marked locations.

2. The game of claim 1 wherein the rebound elements are a plurality of generally cylindrical discs.

3. The game of claim 2 wherein at least one of the impact surfaces is canted relative to the playing surface to permit placement of the rebound elements in other than a straight line arrangement.

4. The game of claim 1 wherein said goal means includes a generally cylindrical cup open at the top for receiving a projectile therein.

5. The game of claim 1 wherein said projectile is a sphere capable of bouncing off the rebound element impact surfaces.

6. The game of claim 1 wherein said goal means is located generally near the center of the playing surface.

7. The game of claim 6 wherein said goal means includes a separate goal for each group of locations.

8. The game of claim 1 wherein said goal means includes a separate goal for each group of locations.

9. A rebounding aerial projectile game wherein a projectile is to be launched towards a goal comprising:

a substantially flat playing surface having a group of marked indicia bearing locations in a predetermined relation to one another;

goal means;

a plurality of rebound elements each having a generally upwardly facing fixed flat impact surface adapted to be impacted by a projectile moving in one direction so as to rebound the projectile generally upwardly therefrom in another direction, said rebound elements being selectively positionable on any of preselected combinations of marked locations on the playing surface for permitting the impact surfaces to be orientated relative to one another so that the projectile may impact the rebound elements in a predetermined order defining a path of travel through the air to the goal means whereby each combination represents a path of travel of a different degree of difficulty; and

scoring means having indicia thereon corresponding to the indicia on said marked locations indicating particular scores for said preselected combinations of marked locations.

10. The game of claim 9 having a plurality of groups 5 of locations around said goal means for allowing more than one player to participate. v

11. The game of claim 9 wherein the rebound elements are a plurality of generally cylindrical discs.

receiving a projectile therein.

14. The game of claim 9 wherein said projectile is a sphere capable of bouncing off the rebound element 5 impact surfaces. 

1. A rebounding aerial projectile game wherein a projectile is to be launched towards a goal comprising: a playing surface; goal means located generally near the center of the playing surface; a plurality of groups of marked indicia bearing location on said playing surface and around said goal means, each group of locations including a plurality of marked locations in a predetermined relation to one another; a plurality of rebound elements each having a generally upwardly facing flat impact surface adapted to be impacted by a projectile moving in one direction so as to rebound the projectile generally upwardly therefrom in another direction, said rebound elements being selectively positionable on any of a preselected combination of marked locations within each group for permitting the impact surfaces to be orientated relative to one another so that the projectile may impact the rebound elements in a predetermined order defining a path of travel through the air to the goal means whereby each combination represents a path of travel of a different degree of difficulty; and scoring means having indicia thereon corresponding to the indicia on said marked locations indicating particular scores for said preselected combinations of marked locations.
 2. The game of claim 1 wherein the reBound elements are a plurality of generally cylindrical discs.
 3. The game of claim 2 wherein at least one of the impact surfaces is canted relative to the playing surface to permit placement of the rebound elements in other than a straight line arrangement.
 4. The game of claim 1 wherein said goal means includes a generally cylindrical cup open at the top for receiving a projectile therein.
 5. The game of claim 1 wherein said projectile is a sphere capable of bouncing off the rebound element impact surfaces.
 6. The game of claim 1 wherein said goal means is located generally near the center of the playing surface.
 7. The game of claim 6 wherein said goal means includes a separate goal for each group of locations.
 8. The game of claim 1 wherein said goal means includes a separate goal for each group of locations.
 9. A rebounding aerial projectile game wherein a projectile is to be launched towards a goal comprising: a substantially flat playing surface having a group of marked indicia bearing locations in a predetermined relation to one another; goal means; a plurality of rebound elements each having a generally upwardly facing fixed flat impact surface adapted to be impacted by a projectile moving in one direction so as to rebound the projectile generally upwardly therefrom in another direction, said rebound elements being selectively positionable on any of preselected combinations of marked locations on the playing surface for permitting the impact surfaces to be orientated relative to one another so that the projectile may impact the rebound elements in a predetermined order defining a path of travel through the air to the goal means whereby each combination represents a path of travel of a different degree of difficulty; and scoring means having indicia thereon corresponding to the indicia on said marked locations indicating particular scores for said preselected combinations of marked locations.
 10. The game of claim 9 having a plurality of groups of locations around said goal means for allowing more than one player to participate.
 11. The game of claim 9 wherein the rebound elements are a plurality of generally cylindrical discs.
 12. The game of claim 9 wherein at least one of the impact surfaces is canted relative to the playing surface to permit placement of the rebound elements in other than a straight line arrangement.
 13. The game of claim 9 wherein said goal means includes a generally cylindrical cup open at the top for receiving a projectile therein.
 14. The game of claim 9 wherein said projectile is a sphere capable of bouncing off the rebound element impact surfaces. 